Avalanche forecast

Kananaskis

Jan 27 – 28, 2013Alberta Parks
View on map
Archived · expired 14 years ago

Avalanche danger

Tue
Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Open full map

Highlights

Not much in the way of deep powder turns right now but travel is rather easy!  This weak areas surrounding the lens of hard slabs are places to be wary of.  See video here for discussion.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–4
    30-40cm thick hard slabs are being encountered in all open terrain at treeline and above.  We also encountered the slabs in open areas below treeline!  Stiff slab and weak facetted base equals wide propagations.  Remember that... 

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–3
    Storm slabs are being encountered along ridgelines and in immediate lee terrain in Alpine areas.  They are also making it tough to see thin weak snowpack areas surrounding the previously buried wind slabs. 

Weather Forecast

A low pressure system off the Gulf of alaska will begin to work its way towards Alberta overnight on Sunday.  Snow is forecast to begin late in the day on monday and some models are predicting that there may be an upslope component to this storm so the front ranges may see some accumulations (HWY40).  Total accumulations are only forecast to be 5-10cm on Monday.  Winds will remain at light to moderate out of the NW but on Tuesday a trailing warm front will cause the winds to increase into the Strong range. 

Avalanche Summary

A recent size 3 cornice triggered avalanche was observed on a N aspect at 2700m on one of the back bowls on Mt Rundle. 

Snowpack Summary

LIttle change over the past 24hrs.  Light snowfalls continued throughout the day with minimal accumulation.  Winds were generally calm except at higher elevations.  Storm slabs continue to build at ridgelines and in immediate lees but these slabs are not that thick and they do not extend to far downslope. 

Regions covered